Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 17:9

"And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead." — Matthew 17:9 (ASV)

What they had seen would confirm their own confidence and remain a secret spring of delight to them, but because it would require great faith in others to believe it, they were to tell the vision to no man. The transfiguration would be as hard to believe as the incarnation itself, and there could be no practical use in making demands upon a faith which scarcely existed.

Until the greatest confirmation of all was given in our Lord’s resurrection, the vision on the Holy Mount would be more a burden on faith than a support for it in the case of those who did not personally see it, but only heard the apostles’ report of it. It is wise not to overload testimony. There is a time for making known the higher truths, for out of season, these may burden, rather than assist, inquiring minds. What a secret these men had to keep! They did keep it, but they never forgot it, nor ceased to feel its influence.

Now that the Son of man is risen again from the dead, no doctrine needs to be kept back. In bringing life and immortality to light, our Lord has torn away the veil which had long concealed the higher mysteries of the Gospel. His coming out of the grave has set free all buried truth. It is pointless, not to say sinful, to be silent about the deep things of God now that the Lord is risen indeed. Yet some preachers we could name never mention election, the covenant, or final perseverance for years at a time.